|
Saturday, April 09, 2005
RP lauded for successful hosting of parliament meet
* 4 major resolutions approved by general assembly
INTERNATIONAL Parliament Union (IPU) president Sergio Paez Friday congratulated the country, particularly the Philippine Senate, for the successful holding of the 112th IPU assembly.
At the conclusion of the six-day assembly Friday, four resolutions were adopted Philippine Senate President Franklin Drilon said. Drilon was earlier elected as assembly president.
By tradition, the head of the parliament of the host country becomes the assembly president.
Paez described the 112th IPU meeting as "the most-attended" and "well-organized" conference.
"We have had a very organized six-day assembly. We could not have asked for a better host. You have also successfully presided and exercised authority over the proceedings and meetings of the assembly," Paez said.
More than 1,300 delegates from 116 countries attended the assembly and participated in discussions that concerned women, children, debt relief, crimes against humanity and prevention of natural disasters.
Before the plenary assembly adjourned, the governing council approved and adopted the four resolutions drafted by the standing committees of the IPU.
The committee on peace and international security filed a resolution on the "role of the parliaments in the establishment and functioning of mechanisms to provide for the judgment and sentencing of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and terrorism, with a view to avoiding impunity."
A salient feature of the resolution is an appeal to other parliaments worldwide to ratify the Rome Statute on the creation of the International Criminal
Court (ICC).
The committee on sustainable development, finance and trade submitted a resolution on the "role of parliaments in establishing innovative international financing and trading mechanisms to address the problem of debt and achieve the Millennium Development Goals."
The resolution encouraged parliaments of developed countries to demand that their respective governments fulfill their commitments to allocate 0.7 percent of their gross domestic product for Official Development Assistance (ODA), as set in the Millennium Declaration.
The committee on democracy and human rights, on the other hand, passed a resolution on the "role of the parliaments in advocating and enforcing observance of human rights in strategies for the prevention, management and treatment of the HIV/Aids (human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) pandemic."
The resolution proposed the strengthening of legislative measures that seek to give more protection to women against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
A fourth resolution on the role of parliaments in the prevention, rehabilitation, reconstruction and protection of vulnerable groups was also passed. It proposed that parliaments come up with measures to help victims of major disasters.
Meanwhile, IPU secretary general Anders Johnson said the resolutions are non-binding but only urge parliament to adopt better legislation. (JPM)
(April 9, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
